- 13 -

Ash shivered, curling into a tight ball. He had just barely grasped onto consciousness, as time passed by in silence. Moaning deep in his throat, Ash twisted sorely, before pushing himself into a half sitting position. He looked around wearily, his eyes still unfocused. "Ah, finally decided to wake up, hmm?" a voice purred above him.

Hearing the voice cleared his mind. Ash stared at Kayley in disbelief. It quickly turned into disgust, as the realization hit that she had been there the whole time. "Where am I? What do you all want?" Ash asked, quickly backing off, using his legs and arms to push himself.

"Oh, come now, why should it matter where we are at?" Kayley said, giving him a - fake – hurt look. "We are all alone after all, so we could have some…fun." Ash's eyes widened slightly, as he turned a pale red in both embarrassment and anger. She had some nerve to even suggest it! He looked around uncomfortably, at a loss as to what to do; he didn't have all that many options.

"This is hopeless!" Roxanne yelled, dead stopping. Everyone looked at her, worry flashing across their features. "We've been searching all over for him! There hasn't been any sign of Team Magma or Ash anywhere!"

They had, indeed, been searching the countryside with a feverish determination. Though, there had been no sight nor sound of Team Magma or its captive prisoner. Some of the students where starting to lose their confidence gradually. "We can't give up! They can't have just vanished into thin air!" May said, frowning at Roxanne.

"I know. We all need a rest though, I think," the Gym Leader pointed out. May looked at the group of students that where milling about, waiting for a decision to be made on what they would do next, before nodding. "Thank you. Ok you lot, take a break!"

With a large sigh, they all sat down on the ground where they had been standing. "He must be really important to them," May said, making shapes in the dirt with her nail as she spoke, "Though, why? I know he's the Pokemon Master, but that can't be the only reason behind it…"

Amber and the other pokemon watched the trainer's with curiosity, before turning to the bigger pokemon. "Why is he so important?" Amber asked, and the others nodded.

"Well, he's connected to Earth through what is called Fate and Destiny, which brings with it immense power." Groudon started to explain, "Some day, Ash will have to summon the most powerful pokemon, along with all of the Legendary ones, to stop a disaster from hitting the planet that you cannot even imagine in your worst dreams."

The pokemon all stared at him in wide-eyed shock, a look for horror and dear starting to creep across their faces. The Legendary calmly got up, when the trainers and Gym Leader prepared to start again. Seeing just how passive the stronger pokemon was being, the others relaxed again and followed his lead. Amber trotted over to cling to May's ankle on the way.

"So…" Roxanne said, cautiously, "what is it like?"

The students all stared at the two curiously, their attention caught by the vague question. May gave the Gym Leader a perplexed look.

"What is what like?" she asked, scooping up the baby pokemon that had still been riding on her ankle ("Chu!"). Roxanne gave her students a thoughtful look, before giving a reply.

"Well, what's it like to be married to the pokemon master?" It was May's turn to stare at them, more out of shock then curiosity though. Amber and the other pokemon went quiet, as if they too were waiting for her to talk.

"Um…" May looked absent-mindedly at the scenery as they walked in silent, before turning to glance at them again. "He's a wonderful husband, though he can be really stubborn sometimes."

Amber made a small sound, like a squeak, shaking her head. May laughed, stroking the pokemon. "No…all the time!"

The students laughed, trying to hide it at the same time. "Isn't that an annoyance?" one of them asked.

"No, not really. Ash…his heart is in the right place most of the time. And he makes sure the pokemon and I am taken care of," she replied, setting Amber down.

"Are you just gunna travel?" another one of the girls asked. May shook her head, smiling.

"No, we'll most likely be going back to Lunar sooner or later. We've got a house there, sitting locked up in Meribia. So, when we are ready, we're going to settle down. There's also already been the thought of having children someday." The few boys with them rolled their eyes, as the girls 'aww'ed.

"Will you ever come back so we can see the baby?!" most of them, including Roxanne, yelled. May had to turn away, to keep from laughing at them, for several minutes before finally looking at them again.

"Well, I don't know. We might."

The search continued on through the day. Miles away from the small group though, the Team Aqua headquarters was alive with activity. The Leader, Archie, was considerably peeved. He called in two of his agents. The pair in question walked in, abeit cautiously. "Yes sir?" they said, standing in front of him.

"You failed at getting the Chosen One! You are to make a search of the region! I am giving you access to the repritorie! Find him!" Archie snapped. The two bowed down low, nodding in agreement.

"Yes sir, we will do as you order us." They hurried out again, to start their own search.

Meanwhile, Ash was having his own troubles. He was doing everything he could to avoid Kayley at all costs, and hiding wherever it was possible. Kayley, unlike Ash, seemed to enjoy the cat and mouse game they where in – with her being the cat.

Ash ground his teeth together, crouched down behind a couch, as he waited in silence. He didn't appreciate the Magma woman's advances, nor her continuing chase. She kept trying to get close, and he didn't want thing to do with her. Cursing silently, he peeked around the couch. Kayley was looking around, smiling slightly. He slid back in place, sighing.

The situation didn't give him many options, except to hide from Kayley until he could think of another way out. Ash rubbed his eyes, a headache forming rapidly. He wouldn't strike her, no matter how she acted; being an almost total gentleman, he refused to. She whistled softly, sitting on the bed passively. "You won't even give me a little chance?" Kayley whimpered, turning and looking toward the headboard.

Cringing, Ash stayed silent. He wasn't about to give it away that he was there. The Magma agent got up, faking a sob and clutching her chest. "I am much more a woman then that…girl, you are with! We could get so far together, all she'll do is hold you back!"

"That's my wife you're talking about!" Ash yelled at her, balling his hands into fists on the floor, "I don't want anyone else, I only want May!" He went quiet, realizing he had just gave himself away, and cursed under his breath. Things just kept getting worse.

Ryudo stopped, looking around curiously. May and Roxanne looked at each other, then at the students who had startled expressions. "Ry!" the pokemon said, sniffing at the air, before jumping up and down.

Amber squealed, clinging to May excitedly. "What are they so jumpy about?" one of the boys asked, staring questioningly at the two baby pokemon, who where still jumping about.

Groudon and the others joined in sniffling the air, picking up on the same thing as the baby. "I think they are going to finish our search for us," May answered, dumbfounded as to how the pokemon could use their sense of smell, even though it had been hours since the search started to begin with.

"Let's follow them, and see where they lead us to," Roxanne suggested, quickening her pace to keep up to the trotting pokemon. The students shook their heads, before they followed stride with May.

Both groups, Team Aqua and the Trainers, where busy searching the area. Aqua was following the reports they where getting about Magma's activity in a town that was not that far off, and the two that had attacked the school, along with a handful of other members, headed straight to the town, in hopes of finding their target. This time, they refused to fail.

This is the newest chapter! I know it, it took bloody long enough to write. I had my reasons for taking so long though . Not that I'm gunna list them here, I rather not, it'd take too long. Anyway, please review and comment on the fanfiction, and I'll try to get the next chapter done faster then this one was.